 | A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems |  |
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THE TRANSLATION OF ENOCH.
“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”
Genesis.
Genesis.
Though proudly through the vaulted sky
Was borne Elisha's sire,
And dazzling unto mortal eye
His car and steeds of fire:
Was borne Elisha's sire,
And dazzling unto mortal eye
His car and steeds of fire:
To me as glorious seems the change
Accorded to thy worth;
As instantaneous and as strange
Thy exit from this earth.
Accorded to thy worth;
As instantaneous and as strange
Thy exit from this earth.
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Something which wakes a deeper thrill,
These few brief words unfold,
Than all description's proudest skill
Could of that hour have told.
These few brief words unfold,
Than all description's proudest skill
Could of that hour have told.
Fancy's keen eye may trace the course
Elijah held on high:
The car of flame, each fiery horse,
Her visions may supply;—
Elijah held on high:
The car of flame, each fiery horse,
Her visions may supply;—
But thy transition mocks each dream
Framed by her wildest power,
Nor can her mastery supreme
Conceive thy parting hour.
Framed by her wildest power,
Nor can her mastery supreme
Conceive thy parting hour.
Were angels, with expanded wings,
As guides and guardians given?
Or did sweet sounds from seraphs' strings
Waft thee from earth to heaven?
As guides and guardians given?
Or did sweet sounds from seraphs' strings
Waft thee from earth to heaven?
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'Twere vain to ask: we know but this—
Thy path from grief and time
Unto eternity and bliss,
Mysterious and sublime!
Thy path from grief and time
Unto eternity and bliss,
Mysterious and sublime!
With God thou walkedst: and wast not!
And thought and fancy fail
Further than this to paint thy lot,
Or tell thy wondrous tale.
And thought and fancy fail
Further than this to paint thy lot,
Or tell thy wondrous tale.
| A New Year's Eve, and Other Poems | |